Screenland (May-Oct 1941)

■MAN HUNT" ONE-WORD GUIDE: DRAMATIC! APPEAL: If you aren't satiated with spy stuff, here's the latest edition. PLOT: And you do mean plot, don't you? "Man Hunt" has more plot than it can accommodate, what with the adventures of a British big-game hunter out to bag the biggest game of all in Berchtesgaden, being captured and tortured before he escapes to England where a little Cockney girl helps him to evade Nazi agents. PRODUCTION: Continental director Fritz Lang's technique is too ponderous for an adventure story especially when weighted with so much detail — so the daring hero's progress sometimes seems to be photographed in slow motion, with the scenes of breathless excitement too few and far between. However, the topical subject and the ageold suspense of the chase saves it from the merely routine movie classification. ACTING: At. last Walter Pidgeon has a big part which he plays with gusto and all his personal persuasion, which is plenty. As the adventurous Captain Thorndike he cuts a dashing figure as he "draws a bead" on Herr Hitler, matches wits with super-menace George Sanders, or gallantly accepts the help of Joan Bennett, who is more convincing as a little "Limey" than you might expect. Best of the cast is young Roddy McDowall, who plays one of those usually rather offensive juvenile roles with endearing earnestness. 10th Century-Fox 'THE RELUCTANT DRAGON" ONE-WORD GUIDE: NOVELTY! APPEAL: For rabid Disney fans to whom the master can do no wrong, a treat; for others, a glorified trailer for the cartoon studios. PLOT: Benchley-conducted tour — yes, Robert himself — of the Walt Disney film factory, with glimpses of the famed cartoons in the making, including the art classes, multi-plane camera room, prop sculpturing department, animation and scenario departments — as well as three new cartoon shorts, "Baby Weems," "How To Ride A Horse," and "The Reluctant Dragon." PRODUCTION: Of course it is Disney, which means wizardry — also the first time human beings and cartoons have been combined in a film feature wi th the exception of a few sequences in "Fantasia." Robert Benchley in person meets the various artists who work on the Disney cartoons, including the "voices" of Donald Duck and Clara Cluck. Beginning in black and white, the film shifts to Technicolor when Benchley wanders into the color camerc room. Cleverly staged. ACTING: Besides Mr. Benchley, the most endearing characters are Mr. Disney's newest cartoon creations, Baby Weems, an infant prodigy who shows up Professor Einstein, and a remarkable character, fhe Dragon, a genteel old girl, who'd rather write poetry than fight and sings the Whoops song. Wait Disney-RKO-Radio 'MOON OYER MIAMI' ONE-WORD GUIDE: GAY! APPEAL: Like a light and fluffy musical to amuse you? Here's the best — and with Betty Grable, too. PLOT: Any resemblance between this story and "Three Blind Mice," a nonmusical movie of about three years ago, is no accident — isn't it somewhat the same, about sisters in search of a fortune? This time the treasure-hunt leads to Miami, complete with cabanas and palms. PRODUCTION: Lavish, with the setting Hollywood's own dream of a vacation paradise — life one long party with assorted bathing beauties and millionaires, and no less than eight songs scattered through the luxurious proceedings. Two dances by Betty Grable are worth the trip. ACTING: Miss Grable again — only she doesn't "act," she's her saucy self and no inhibitions about art. She dances with so much zest, she grins so engagingly, you'll vote her movies' No. I soubrette from now on. Don Ameche and Robert Cummings toil too hard at their roles of gay men about town, often giving the impression they are working for Bob Hope's sponsors. Carole Landis is decorative with little effort to be anything more, but what chance has any other girl in a picture with Betty Grable? Charlotte Greenwood and Jack Haley provide some alleged "comedy." 20th Ccntury-Foi 53